Leash

Thanks to the delicious rice ball, I felt full. To help with digestion, I suggested to Luna-yang that we take a walk around the island, and as always, she grabbed my hand with a happy smile.

When I didn’t walk and just stared blankly, Luna looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Why?”

“…You don’t happen to not know how to refuse, do you?”

Even when I racked my brain, I didn’t have any memories of being disappointed by Luna-yang’s refusal. So, I asked just in case.

Luna-yang tilted her head with a pretty smile at my words.

“Do you want me to refuse?”

“No, it’s not that. I want to be with you.”

At my answer without hesitation, Luna-yang leaned against me slightly with a happy expression.

“Yeah. That’s why I didn’t refuse. I feel the same way as Ross.”

And she continued.

“And Ross hasn’t refused my suggestions either, right?”

I guess so. I hadn’t really thought about that point. When I think about it, I also like being with Luna-yang, so I couldn’t even think about refusing.

“…I’m weak against pretty women. Especially cute women like you.”

When I raised my hand and pressed Luna-yang’s soft cheek, Luna-yang narrowed her eyes.

“It sounds like you’re weak against other women too?”

I was about to answer that’s not true, but suddenly Navier-ssi came to mind.

Will Luna-yang be disappointed? I kept putting off the explanation, and I haven’t been able to reveal what happened with Navier-ssi to Luna-yang until now.

Since Aria-ssi has ears, I headed to the island beyond the closet for now.

The heat of summer hadn’t faded yet, so it felt a little stuffy, but thanks to the gently blowing sea breeze, it was good weather for a walk.

While walking along the beach, I explained in detail what happened with Navier-ssi during the vacation.

I became a disciple of the Lycan, learned the Formless Breath, and the condition that I had to go on a date once a month in exchange for learning the Formless from the main family from Laelian-nim.

Noticing that the hand I was holding had more strength than before, I hurriedly explained.

“It’s just a date in name only. Just think of it as having dinner with Navier-ssi with the club members.”

As I made that excuse, Luna-yang stopped walking and turned to me. She was definitely smiling, but I didn’t feel like she was laughing.

“But Navier-ssi might think it’s a date.”

It wasn’t her usual soft voice, but a slightly cold voice. I scratched my head because of unnecessary tension.

“No, Navier-ssi knows too. She refused when she was offered by Laelian-nim. I already said that I love you and want to be with you for the rest of my life.”

“…Really?”

I nodded diligently to Luna-yang, who was looking at me with a slightly suspicious look.

“Of course. From the beginning, the reason I want to become stronger is to be with you for the rest of my life. I can’t live without you.”

Saying those words, I brought my face closer, and she closed her eyes as if she couldn’t resist, so I smiled and kissed her cute face.

“If you don’t want to, I don’t have to. You’re the most important thing to me.”

“…If you say that, I can’t refuse.”

At Luna-yang’s words, I scratched my forehead. If I were in Luna-yang’s position, I think I would honestly be dumbfounded.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

When I sincerely apologized, Luna-yang glared at me slightly and then snuggled into my arms.

I heard Luna-yang muttering with her face buried in my chest.

“Of course I believe what Ross says, but I’m still jealous.”

I opened my arms and hugged Luna-yang tightly.

“I would have been a little sad if you weren’t.”

Luna-yang, who had pinched my side slightly, raised her buried face.

Her eyes were red as she met my gaze.

I felt a strange feeling mixed with guilt and joy.

Luna-yang, who was looking at me and pursing her lips, muttered softly.

“…Ross is mine.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at that lovely sight.

“That’s right, I’m yours forever. I can promise you that. I already swore.”

When I said that definitively, Luna-yang pouted her lips cutely.

“Ross has a lot of charm, so he might attract the attention of other women even if he doesn’t mean to.”

“…Do you really love me that much?”

I threw a joke as if blaming myself, but unexpectedly, Luna-yang looked at me with a serious expression. I think she really thinks so.

Feeling embarrassed, I smiled and tilted my head slightly, then dropped it again, meeting her worried gaze.

“Don’t worry. You’re the only one in this world who recognizes my charm, Luna-yang. I don’t show it to anyone else.”

Saying that, I gently put my lips on Luna-yang’s white neck.

I felt Luna-yang flinch as I stuck out my tongue and licked it lightly.

“I-It’s ticklish…!”

Only then did Luna-yang erase the worry from her eyes at my joke.

“…Ross, you’re sly.”

“Is that one of my charms too?”

When I asked shamelessly, Luna-yang blushed and avoided my gaze.

That’s not the reaction I wanted. I ended up bursting into laughter.

Holding hands with Luna-yang again, we walked and talked about the rest of the story.

When I finished explaining about the lighthouse, Luna-yang’s eyes were full of tears as if she was about to cry any minute.

After walking in silence for a while, Luna-yang said in a small voice a little later.

“…I’m just glad Ross didn’t get hurt.”

I stopped walking without realizing it.

I had never even thought that Luna-yang would worry about that.

A strange feeling tickled my chest.

“Thank you for saying that. I’ll be careful in the future.”

As if she was happy with those words, Luna-yang nodded with a pretty smile.

After finishing our walk, we returned home and rested on the sofa for a while. When I brought out water with cool barley tea, Luna-yang thanked me and drank it.

Timing it, I took out the God’s Fountain Pen from the space warehouse.

“I have something to give you.”

“Huh?”

I put the fountain pen in Luna-yang’s hand, who was tilting her head cutely.

“It’s the God’s Fountain Pen I got from the temple.”

Luna-yang’s eyes widened more than usual. Luna-yang, who was looking at me and the fountain pen with a bewildered expression, shook her head.

“I-I can’t accept this. Ross needs it.”

“Yeah, I need it. That’s why I’m giving it to you. Because you’re the person I need.”

I continued speaking at the sight of Luna-yang pursing her lips with a flustered expression.

“I told you before. I’ll find a way to make all the club members grow. I prepared this for you from the beginning.”

It wasn’t that Luna-yang was my lover, so she was a priority. Luna-yang was just the person who could use the God’s Fountain Pen most efficiently.

“I’m sorry I feel like I’m only receiving from Ross….”

I wondered if she was saying that sincerely, so I looked at Luna-yang. I sighed and hugged Luna-yang at her teary eyes.

“If you weren’t here, I wouldn’t have been able to do anything and would have collapsed.”

I heard a faint sobbing sound in my arms. I stroked the back of Luna-yang’s head and continued speaking.

“You support me, lead me when I’m lost and wandering. You make me feel so happy that I’m grateful.”

“I, I do that for Ross too… I’m, I’m always grateful….”

I gently stroked her back at Luna-yang’s teary voice.

“The love I received from you cannot be priced with anything. So I can’t repay as much as I received. So you have to demand more. Because it’s not enough, ask me to love you more.”

Luna-yang, who was hugging me, raised her head and met my gaze. Teardrops ran down her cheeks. Her flushed lips were seductive today.

“…I can put a price on it. The love I received will definitely be better than what Ross received.”

I couldn’t resist the impulse and pulled Luna-yang’s chin and kissed her.

Her lips felt warmer and softer than usual.

She was flustered at first, but I focused on the kiss as she closed her eyes.

When our breaths parted, I raised my hand and wiped away the tear marks and said with sincerity.

“Did I say it? That I fall for you again every time.”

“…I don’t think you said it. I might not remember today’s either, so tell me every time.”

I smiled so hard that my cheeks hurt at Luna-yang’s cute whining and asked.

“What the hell did you do during the vacation to become so much more lovely?”

Luna-yang had a satisfied expression at my words.

“I worked hard. So that I wouldn’t lose Ross to anyone.”

“I was worried for nothing. I’m already captivated by you.”

I raised Luna-yang’s hands, which were holding my waist, onto my shoulders. Luna-yang, who grabbed my neck, smiled and said.

“That’s right, this is Ross’s leash.”

We laughed and sat on the sofa in that position. Luna-yang, who was on my lap, stroked the fountain pen as if it was precious.

“I’ll cherish it because I received it from Ross.”

“The power of the item varies depending on the user’s effort. Luna-yang will be able to use it well.”

With Luna-yang’s diligence in reviewing the class in the club room after school, it would be only a matter of time before she could freely handle the God’s Fountain Pen.

“Yeah. I’ll try! I’ll definitely be helpful to Ross.”

“I’m already enough, so don’t feel pressured.”

When I said that, Luna-yang snuggled into my arms like a puppy.

“I really like you. Ross.”

A warm warmth permeated my chest.